Weighing the PPP’s prospects
On Sunday the PPP stepped out of rural Sindh to put on a show of strength in Karachi. Bilawal, who led the rally initially hinted at capturing Karachi’s political arena in next elections. A little later, carried away by the slogans raised by charged PPP workers, he expressed the hope that his party would win the 2018 general elections.
Will the PPP be able to remove stigma of having turned itself into a party of rural Sindh? The rift in the MQM presents an opportunity for the PPP to establish itself in Karachi and other urban centers of the province also. For this it would have to compete not only with MQM but also PTI, which has, over the years, created a niche for itself in the metropolis. Despite having won a provincial assembly seat from Karachi in a recent by-election, the PPP suffers from the incumbency factor. Karachi city has deteriorated on account of sheer misrule by the PPP over the last eight years. Despite the province having an efficient chief minister now, the city’s woes related to water, sanitation and a failed transport system still remain unaddressed.
Despite high hopes entertained by Bilawal, the Punjab PPP has yet to recover from the shock of the 2013 electoral debacle. The provincial party suffers from internal rifts which have delayed its re-organisation. A section of the party leaders has deserted to PTI. Among those who remain, most are deathly opposed to any display of soft corner for the PML-N. Over time the PPP jiyalas have become alienated and withdrawn from politics.
The PPP has a steep ascent ahead. Realistically, the best that the PPP can achieve in 2018 is to once again form government in Sindh. It remains to be seen if the party would be able to retain the three seats it won from Punjab in the last elections. After the next elections the party can at best act as a junior partner of whosoever wins the fight for the center.